Does God abandon us to our sin?

[Leevo]

I have an addiction to inappropriate content and masturbation. Hard to confess here, but I have before.

In the past with it, I usually would try and fight it and felt shame and guilt afterwards most of the time. However, recently I have not. I have not tried to fight it at all, I get the urge, and I act. I feel like my conscience is numb. I feel as though God has abandoned me to my sin. I ask God for forgiveness and go to Confession and want to stop but I can't. Part of me thinks that I may not really want to stop because lately when I act out I feel proud of myself for giving myself pleasure even though I know it is wrong and contrary to God's will and therefore shouldn't do it... I feel like a hypocrite when I pray and go to Confession because I have done it soo many times. Has God hardened my heart and abandoned me to my sin?

 

[longwait]

The Lord allows us to learn from our mistakes. But if you harden your heart towards your sin He will leave you to the devil to afflict you.
hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 1 corinthians 5:5. I suggest that you read the whole chapter.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I have an addiction to inappropriate content and masturbation. Hard to confess here, but I have before.

In the past with it, I usually would try and fight it and felt shame and guilt afterwards most of the time. However, recently I have not. I have not tried to fight it at all, I get the urge, and I act. I feel like my conscience is numb. I feel as though God has abandoned me to my sin. I ask God for forgiveness and go to Confession and want to stop but I can't. Part of me thinks that I may not really want to stop because lately when I act out I feel proud of myself for giving myself pleasure even though I know it is wrong and contrary to God's will and therefore shouldn't do it... I feel like a hypocrite when I pray and go to Confession because I have done it soo many times. Has God hardened my heart and abandoned me to my sin?

Hi Leevo,

If God had hardened your heart, I don't think you would have come here to talk about this. One thing you need to keep in mind is that even though your flesh may be strongly tempted, maybe even in a cyclic pattern, this doesn't mean (as yet) that God has given you over to the world of sin.

I see in you profile that you're single. How are you dealing with that? I'm guessing the inappropriate content kind of acts as an emotional placebo to get you by if you're not in a healthy relationship?

Peace
2PhiloVoid

 

[Leevo]

Hi Leevo,

If God had hardened your heart, I don't think you would have come here to talk about this. One thing you need to keep in mind is that even though your flesh may be strongly tempted, maybe even in a cyclic pattern, this doesn't mean (as yet) that God has given you over to the world of sin.

I see in you profile that you're single. How are you dealing with that? I'm guessing the inappropriate content kind of acts as an emotional placebo to get you by if you're not in a healthy relationship?

Peace
2PhiloVoid

Yes, it acts as an out for when I am experiencing loneliness. However, recently it has just acted more as a way to not be bored rather than lonely...

 

[chapmic]

Yes, it acts as an out for when I am experiencing loneliness. However, recently it has just acted more as a way to not be bored rather than lonely...

In order to combat this, I believe you have to focus your mind on something else. It can be prayer, reading the bible, or a healthy hobby you are already interested in or could be interested in. It has to be something that can bring you peace, the Lord gives us blessings each day and when we spend our time focusing on him and obey his will we will receive more of his peace. Don't busy yourself all the time, but an idle mind is the devil's playground. We have to be careful with our thoughts because they lead us astray from God's will. Forgive yourself, I am confident you can beat this as long you call on Jesus and seek the strength of the Holy Spirit when you are tempted. Remember Jesus is with you and he has conquered sin. God bless!

 

[Soyeong]

I have an addiction to inappropriate content and masturbation. Hard to confess here, but I have before.

In the past with it, I usually would try and fight it and felt shame and guilt afterwards most of the time. However, recently I have not. I have not tried to fight it at all, I get the urge, and I act. I feel like my conscience is numb. I feel as though God has abandoned me to my sin. I ask God for forgiveness and go to Confession and want to stop but I can't. Part of me thinks that I may not really want to stop because lately when I act out I feel proud of myself for giving myself pleasure even though I know it is wrong and contrary to God's will and therefore shouldn't do it... I feel like a hypocrite when I pray and go to Confession because I have done it soo many times. Has God hardened my heart and abandoned me to my sin?

It's not about God abandoning us, but about our hearts becoming calloused and about our consciences becoming seared. As with most habits, the more we do something, the easier it become to choose to continue to do it, whether for good or for evil. You're at a point where it takes a tremendous amount will power to choose not give into temptation each time it comes up, which wears you down and makes it extremely difficult to stop. To use an analogy, when someone is overweight, it can take a tremendous amount of willpower to meet a goal of losing a certain amount of pounds in a certain amount of time, which most people will fail to meet, so instead of setting those types of goals, their focus should instead be on forming healthy habits which will eventually lead to losing weight. It doesn't have to be something big just as long as you are forming a healthy habit, and if nothing else changes, then you will still be better off for having a healthy habit, but should help you to continue to make healthy choices and take less willpower to do so. In the same way, if you form of healthy habit of doing something like reading Psalms 51 and spending 5 minutes in prayer every day, then you will be better off for the formation of that habit even if nothing else changes, but I think as you do more things to get in the habit of focusing on God, it will become easier to do things that please Him and take less willpower to resist temptation.

 

[Goodbook]

you need to turn whatever is on, off.
You need to be put off by the fact that inappropriate content is disgusting and degrading esp to the women who are slaves to it exposing themselves to everyone.

It could be your sister, your mother, your daughter, would you want them doing this or knowing you are using someone as an outlet for lust and fueling an entire industry of prostitution.

In the bible its called concupiscience. (big word)

If you can find it watch this documentary.

 

[Goodbook]

In the past in the OT it seemed like God abandoned sinners to their sin. But in the NT Jesus came to save us from our sins and He will never let you go. So take this addiction to Jesus, and let Him kick it to the curb.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Yes, it acts as an out for when I am experiencing loneliness. However, recently it has just acted more as a way to not be bored rather than lonely...

Yes, I can understand the temptation. HOWEVER...one thing you're going to need to remember is that inappropriate content is created and produced by someone else. You, as an unfortunate consumer--and definitely as a Christian--,will want to ponder as to just who it is that is making the inappropriate content and just what their methods and goals are, not to mention their worldview. From where do you think they get their inspiration for all of this?

I think the more you ponder this question, you'll find yourself alleviated of some of the guilt, but you will also likely begin to get a bit angry with those who are so provoking you to compromise your faith in Christ.

Additionally, if God saw that it wasn't good for Adam to be alone, then it probably isn't good for Leevo to be alone either. (...and there's always more to the problem than this, but I'm leaving it here so you can think about it. )

In Christ,
2PhiloVoid

 

[Hieronymus]

To OP:

I can relate...
Lust for delicious 'female flesh'.
Frankly, i think it's beautiful how God designed the female, Eve must have been stunning.
God commanded man to procreate.

Really though, stop the inappropriate content, put the filter back on Google images.
But i guess that's the easy part.

Good thing you're ashamed towards God (i.m.o.)

These are tough times to stand, i wish you the best and strength in this.

 

[Greg J.]

Regarding the title of the OP, "Does God abandon us to our sin"—only if you consider dying for you "abandonment."

Programming oneself to associate pleasure with sin is a major problem. The only way to deal with it is to starve it to death. For many things it is impossible unless any related thought that comes to mind is ejected immediately. It can take years to even be aware that you can successfully do this.

inappropriate content increases the depth of how much a person objectifies women. It is not something that can be resisted. It always happens, even if you are aware of it happening and trying to resist it. This change will harm your ability to have healthy relationships—with everyone (especially those to women and God). For someone who has successfully stopped sinning in action, it is not uncommon for God to take as long to heal a person from the effects as they spent causing the effects (pray for sooner). In my experience the best thing in life are good relationships. You are destroying your future happiness.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how bad the effects are. They are far worse than what I have mentioned. But I am not condemning you. I've had the same fight, and even years later I still have mental warfare of one sort or another every day. However, on the upside, how difficult the warfare is has gotten easier and easier as the years go by. You know you need to stop sinning, but do you really know how big of an emergency it is that you need to stop?